JAMMU, Sep 20:National Conference on Sunday sought assertion of national consensus over safeguarding the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, as guaranteed by Constitution of India.

“Being a major political party, the Congress must play a lead role in this regard, as Jammu and Kashmir is standing at corss-roads of its history amid attempts of trampling Article 35 being perpetrated overtly and covertly”, a 20-member delegation of National Conference, headed by Provincial President Devender Singh Rana told the Congress Policy Planning Group on Kashmir, led by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, currently here on a two day visit of the state.

Leader of Opposition in Rajaya Sabha and former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress General Secretary Ambika Soni were present on the occasion.

Rana extensively dwelt upon the machinations being made to tinker with Article 35A, saying this negates the spirit of 90 year old futuristic law enacted by Maharaja Hari Singh Ji and endorsed by the Constitution of India 63 years ago.

“Article 35A is identity of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and safeguard to their rights”, Rana said, hoping that the nation will appreciate its sensitivity and take a stand on it. He said fighting for constitutional guarantee is a legitimate right of the people, especially as it relates to their identity and interests. He said any attempt of weakening this will cause more harm to Jammu than the other two regions of the State.

The Provincial President touched volley of subjects, including the landmark step of constituting Working Groups during Dr Manmohan Singh’s tenure, saying these had rekindled hope among the people for addressing political issues of Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, expressed anguished that no forward movement could be made in realizing the objective of these well considered groups.

Emphasising, what National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah had been stressing all along, Rana said that the nation will have to rise above party politics and address to various issues of sensitive state of J&K, that were political in nature. He said autonomy and regional autonomy were ideally suiting to empower the people and assuaging e aspirations of all the three regions and their sub-regions.

The Provincial President said ending alienation is necessary for harmonious growth of the state. “We feel the idea of Jammu and Kashmir is under attack”, he said and pleaded for engaging all shades of opinion in constructive dialogue. He said this has been the plank of all the successive governments at the Centre, and therefore any delay could be counterproductive.

Rana said National Conference will play its designated role in bringing the people together but the nation too must shoulder its responsibility. He referred to the statesman like statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day and said that the golden words of Goli Se Na Gaali Se are needed to be translated into reality on ground. He hoped that a positive forward movement will be taken in this regard.

SRINAGAR, Sep 10: National Conference (NC) today demanded that government of India must unequivocally defend Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
According to the party, the demand was made during a meeting of NC delegation led by Omar Abdullah with union home minister Rajnath Singh.
While highlighting the political, historical and constitutional context of the state’s special status, Omar registered the party’s concern and disappointment over the central government’s ambiguity in defending th